Supporting vulnerable Lebanese communities, Syrian refugees, children and elderly people through primary health care, psychosocial support, awareness and community resilience services in South Lebanon.
What We Do?
Khiam is characterized by its demographic diversity and strategic location overlooking occupied Palestine and the Golan Heights, around 130 kilometers south of Beirut.
The city is widely known for the former Israeli detention center, where many Lebanese detainees were held and tortured. Khiam has also been repeatedly affected by war and destruction.
Following the outbreak of the Syrian crisis, Khiam and surrounding areas in South Lebanon received large numbers of displaced people, increasing pressure on already vulnerable communities.
About the Center
The center was created during the Lebanese Civil War and was among the first responders during the 2006 Israeli aggression.
Today, the center mainly implements primary health care activities and psychosocial support for elderly populations. It has been rehabilitated to meet Lebanese Ministry of Public Health standards, with partial support from Khiam Municipality.
A livelihood project supported by the Crisis Center of the French Embassy has also provided vocational training, life skills, English and IT courses, internship opportunities and psychosocial support for youth affected by the Syrian crisis.
Primary Health Care
The primary health care project started in 2013 with UNHCR support, initially targeting Syrian refugees.
Services include subsidized general and specialized consultations, ophthalmology, rheumatology, dentistry, physiotherapy, laboratory tests, vaccinations, medicine prescriptions and referrals for secondary health care.
Awareness & Social Cohesion
The center organizes awareness sessions and community events focused on health, prevention and improving social cohesion between Syrian refugees and host communities.
These activities are implemented with the support of the French Agency for Development.
Support for Elderly People
Since September 2015, psychosocial support activities for elderly people have been implemented in cooperation with HelpAge.
Services include social counseling, psychological consultations, physical activities, recreational events, cooking classes, gardening and age-friendly rehabilitation of the center.
Mobile Medical Unit
Amel secured funding to operate a mobile medical unit serving vulnerable communities and camps around Khiam.
The unit provides health care, psychosocial support, medicine distribution and outreach activities for Syrian refugees and vulnerable families.
Children & Education
Until 2014, the center hosted non-formal education activities with UNHCR support for Syrian refugee children.
Amel is assessing opportunities to resume education activities, while recreational and cultural sessions are planned in partnership with the French NGO LEM.
Livelihood & Youth Support
Youth affected by the Syrian crisis benefit from vocational training in nursing and food production, life skills, English, IT courses, internships and psychosocial support.
These activities help young people build practical skills, confidence and livelihood opportunities.
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